Most common 2004 Buick Rendezvous problems
Share of the 200 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Buick Rendezvous complaints by model year
Best Rendezvous years: 2007, 2006, 2005. Years to avoid: 2002, 2003. Compare all years →
2004 Buick Rendezvous recalls (4)
Fuel system, gasoline › Storage
On certain vehicles, variations in the manufacturing process or exposure to high ambient temperatures May lead to fracture of the fuel tank inlet check valve (icv).
Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel tank. The recall will be mailed in two phases with the first phase beginning on December 4, 2007. The second phase will be mailed on December 13, 2007.
Electrical system › Ignition
On certain sport utility vehicles, contamination on ignition relay contacts can cause high resistance. This can affect signals to the powertrain control module and, could cause intermittent vehicle stalls at any time.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the ignition relay free of charge. The recall began on May 4, 2005. Owners May contact Pontiac at 1-800-620-7668 and Buick at 1-866-608-8080.
Latches/locks/linkages › Hatchback/liftgate › Lock
On certain sport utility vehicles, a structural support at the latch attachment in the rear liftgate May be inadequate to retain the latch to the liftgate in certain severe vehicle crash events.
Remedy: Dealers will add structural reinforcements to the liftgate in the area adjoining the latch assembly. Owner notification schedule began on June 21, 2004. Owners should contact Buick at 1-866-608-8080.
Fuel system, gasoline › Storage
On certain passenger vehicles, a weld between the fuel tank inlet check valve and the fuel tank can fail.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the serial number of the fuel tank to see if it is on the list of affected tanks. If the serial number matches, the fuel tank will be replaced. Owner notification began November 4, 2003.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 3 possible defects involving the 2004 Buick Rendezvous:
Fuel tank leakage
Certain subject vehicles May exhibit leakage of odor and/or fuelfrom the lower portion of the fuel tank inlet filler pipe (inlet check valve).the inlet check valve (icv) and the fuel tank are joined together using a hot plate welding process for plastic parts.GM reports that its analysis of field returned parts show evidence of process variations for different manufacturing periods.these variations produced some icv…
Ignition relay failure
On November 10, 2004, the office of defects investigation (odi) opened a preliminary evaluation to investigate the failure, malfunction, or other unsatisfactory performance of the engine control system which May result in engine stalling in certain model year (my) 2004 Buick rendezvous (gmt250) and Pontiac aztek (gmt250) vehicles allegedly caused by ignition relay failure.odi is aware of 68 non-duplicative…
Fuel tank leakage
GM is recalling (NHTSA recall no. 07v-349) certain model year (my) 2002-2004 Buick rendezvous, Chevrolet venture (regular wheelbase) and 2001-2004 Pontiac aztek and montana (regular wheelbase) vehicles to replace fuel tanks and correct a defect that May allow fuel leakage.the vehicle recall population is rendezvous and aztek vehicles built in May 2003, venture and montana vehicle built in June through August 2002…
What 2004 Buick Rendezvous owners say
Electrical system all 76 →
Upon arriving at my destination and after i put my in park i was UNABLE to turn my engine off because the ignition was stuck in that position. I ultimately had no choice but to unhook the battery cables along with disconnecting the alternator to get my engine to turn off. Prior to this incident occasionally upon starting my car the ignition would not disengage immediately upon the engine turning over which ultimately resulted in having to replace the starter on this vehicle. I am a single parent and only have one vehicle so this is a major issue for my family. Furthermore the fan speed control knob doesnt work properly because when it is put in position 3 it shuts the fan motor off completely. So there CLEAR to me that there seems to be a MAJOR electrical issue. The suspension on this vehicle is horrendous. …
Multiple times the vehicle has stalled randomly while being driven. This has happened so many times I've lost count (at least 20). This happens at various speeds (from 0 MPH to 70 MPH). The entire electrical system shuts down when the vehicle stalls causing the steering and brakes to be less effective. This could easily result in an accident. The vehicle has been taken to 2 different Buick dealers for diagnostic and repair. The dealerships have not been able to fix the problem. The ignition switch and the ignition relay have both been replaced and all the electrical contacts have been cleaned and checked. These repairs have not fixed the vehicle. I've called Buick customer service and they refuse to do anything further without additional charge to the owner. The owner will not be making further repairs.
Fuel & propulsion system all 49 →
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Buick Rendezvous. The contact observed an abnormal fuel odor within the vehicle without warning. In addition, a slow drip from the fuel tank was observed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who confirmed that there was a leak from the fuel tank. The contact then called the local dealer (Buick GMC of kirkland, 12335 120th ave ne, kirkland, wa, 98034) where an appointment was scheduled. The dealer diagnosed that there was a fracture within the fuel tank inlet check valve. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign numbers: 03V454000 (fuel system) or 07V349000 (fuel system). The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was contacted and provided case number: 8-34895551467. The case was escalated, but the manufacturer denied the claim and stated that they would not cover it nor was the vehicle included in the prior recalls. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Buick Rendezvous. The contact stated that while refueling, gasoline leaked from the vehicle. The contact became aware that the gas tank was fractured while refueling the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was inspected and diagnosed and determined that the fuel tank was fractured and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign number: 07V349000 (fuel system, gasoline) as a possible solution to the failure however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the warranty was expired. The failure mileage was approximately 109,694.
Engine & cooling all 31 →
Dash gauges, warning lights, & alarms, bells flash on & off and vehicle suddenly runs rough. Dash codes of all sorts blink on & off. New battery and new altenator installed, problem still exists. This happened first when driving on hiway. After vehicle pulled off road and engine turned off. The dash code then read battery issue. We tried to drive again but now vehicle operated roughly and there was no more daylight. We had vehicle towed 100 miles. Then paid for new battery problem did not change so we had a new altenator installed after having a diagnostic test advising the need for a new altenator. I am quite upset becaus ei feel that there is fraud on part of sears autorepair. Diagnostic said altenator was the problem. I paid over $450 for that service and another $150 for the battery.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Buick Rendezvous. While driving at approximately 45 MPH, the vehicle experienced unintended acceleration. The check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle has not yet been diagnose. There were consequences but the contact was concerned for his safety. When the check engine warning light illuminated, the vehicle unintendedly accelerated. The contact also stated that the vehicle had been experiencing the failure for approximately every day for the past two weeks. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the nature of the failure was undetermined. The vehicle was not taken to not taken to a dealer for diagnostic testing or repairs. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 110,000.
2004 Buick Rendezvous engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.4L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 17 / 24 / 20 |
| 3.6L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 16 / 23 / 19 |
| 3.4L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 16 / 22 / 18 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2004 Buick Rendezvous a good car?
Based on 200 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2004 Rendezvous rates average: 1.3× as many complaints as a typical year of the Rendezvous at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2004 Buick Rendezvous?
The electrical system — 76 complaints, 38% of all complaints for this model year, most often about ignition. Next are the fuel & propulsion system (49) and engine & cooling (31).
How many recalls does the 2004 Buick Rendezvous have?
There are 4 recalls for the 2004 Buick Rendezvous, the most recent from August 8, 2007 (storage). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Buick Rendezvous?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2007, 2006 and 2005. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2002 and 2003. See the full Buick Rendezvous years comparison.
At what mileage do 2004 Buick Rendezvous problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 68,000 miles; 40% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.